Natalia Martin

Short presentation

I engage in undergraduate and graduate teaching while leading research work focused on synchrotron analysis of thin-film solar cells (CIGSe/CZTS/perovskites). By investigating atomic-level material changes during fabrication and operation, my work aims to eliminate instability issues to design optimized, stable photovoltaics. 

Committed to community-building, I serve as Chairperson of the Uppsala Center for Photon Science, a PAC member at MAX IV, and a group co-leader for LINXS/Semiconductors.

Keywords

• Thin-film solar cells
• Photovoltaics (PV)
• Perovskite solar cells
• CIGSe
• Clean energy materials
• Material stability
• Performance degradation. Synchrotron radiation
• Advanced X-ray characterization
• Synchrotron spectroscopy
• In-situ characterization
• Operando analysis
• AP-XPS (Ambient Pressure X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy)
• X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS)
• X-ray diffraction (XRD)
• X-ray fluorescence (XRF) Thin-film growth
• Crystallization dynamics
• Interface chemistry
• Device fabrication.

Biography

I am a researcher dedicated to advancing clean energy materials and strengthening the synchrotron user community in Sweden and internationally. Alongside my teaching duties at both undergraduate and graduate levels, I lead the research track on synchrotron analysis of thin-film photovoltaics.

MSc in Physics – Umeå University (2009)

PhD in Physics – Lund University (2014, Condensed Matter Physics)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Chalmers University of Technology (2014–2016, Materials Chemistry)

Researcher – Chalmers University of Technology (2016–2018, Materials Chemistry)

Researcher – Uppsala University (2018–present, Solar Cell Technology)

Docent / Associate Professor in Engineering Science with specialization in Electronics – Uppsala University (2022)

Chairperson – Uppsala Center for Photon Science (Since 2026; Board Member 2023–2025)

Programme Advisory Committee (PAC) Member – Spectroscopy (AP-XPS), MAX IV Laboratory (Since 2024)

Working Group Leader – 'Optoelectronics and PV', LINXS Semiconductors Theme (since 2026)

Committee Member – Spectroscopy and Surface Analysis Group, MSL-Ångström (Since 2023)

Research

My research aims to drive the optimization of next-generation thin-film solar cells—specifically focusing on copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGSe), copper zinc tin sulfide (CZTS) and perovskites. To mitigate material instability and performance degradation, my research focuses on understanding how these materials evolve under two distinct phases:

• During Fabrication: Investigating chemistry and structural changes as the thin films are being formed.
• During Operation (In-Situ/Operando): Tracking real-time degradation and atomic-level shifts under actual working conditions.

We bridge this gap by integrating in-house sample synthesis and device testing with advanced global synchrotron X-ray characterization, primarily at the MAX IV Laboratory.

Ongoing Projects

• 2026–2029: "Enhancing stability and performance in next generation solar cells by employing advanced synchrotron characterization” | Role: Principal Investigator (PI) | Funder: Swedish Research Council (VR)
• 2025–2028: "MIXides: versatile, robust and earth abundant materials for a new generation of green technologies” | Role: Co-Applicant (PI: J. Scragg) | Funder: Swedish Research Council (VR)
• 2019–Present: "Synchrotron spectroscopy of thin film solar cells” | Role: Project Leader | Funder: SFO StandUp for Energy Programme

Completed Projects

• 2021–2024: "Synchrotron spectroscopy for the in situ and operando characterization of thin film solar cells” | Role: Principal Investigator (PI) | Funder: Swedish Research Council (VR) Starting Grant
• 2020–2024: "Mechanisms with influence on long term stability in high efficiency Cu(In,Ga)Se2 thin film solar cells” | Role: Co-Applicant (PI: C. Platzer-Björkman) | Funder: Swedish Energy Agency (Energimyndigheten)

Research Team & Alumni

• Karolina Johansson – PhD student (Focus: Synchrotron spectroscopy of enhancing stability and performance in ACIGS solar cells)
• Dr. Melike Babucci – Postdoctoral Researcher (Focus: Synchrotron spectroscopy of thin film solar cells)- alumni